Method and apparatus for treatment of respiratory disease

Claim 1

In combination with an aerosol generator powered by source of compressed air and used in the treatment of respiratory disease, the aerosol generator having an aerosol chamber having a medicated fluid therein, the improvement in the generator to permit delivery of controlled oxygen concentrations with high humidity comprising: a first inlet to the aerosol chamber extending into said medicated fluid, said inlet being connected with the source of compressed air to provide a primary aerosol in the aerosol chamber, said aerosol having a high humidity and initial low oxygen concentration due to the oxygen content of the compressed air; a second inlet to the chamber above the level of the fluid in the chamber, said inlet being connected with a supply line from a controllable source of oxygen wherein the oxygen concentration of the aerosol in the aerosol chamber may be increased in proportion to the amount of oxygen supplied to the second inlet; an oxygen adapter element having a lower portion for slidable insertion in said second inlet to protrude into the aerosol chamber and an upper portion to cooperatively interconnect with the source of oxygen supply line, said adapter element having a bore therethrough providing communication between the source of oxygen and the aerosol chamber wherein oxygen is delivered direct to the aerosol chamber to mix with the primary aerosol; seal means about said lower portion to engage said second inlet and provide an airtight seal between said oxygen adapter element and the aerosol generator; and an outlet from the chamber connected with a conduit interconnected with a patient utilization device, said outlet being in communication between the aerosol chamber and the conduit whereby the controlled oxygen concentrated aerosol may be transmitted from he chamber to the patient utilization device.